Fountain toothbrush



June 3, 1958 J. JULIAN FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed June 5, 1956 Fig.

Fig.2

John Julian IN VEN TOR.'

United States Patent FOUNTAIN TQOTHBRUSH John Julian, Elizabeth, Pa.

Application June 5, 1956, Serial No. 589,407

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-137) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in toothbrushes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to contain an ample supply of dentifrice ready to be used at all times.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush of the character described comprising novel means for feeding the dentifrice to the brush head.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fountain toothbrush of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fountain toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the device, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section through the rear end portion of the device, showing the dentifrice being ejected;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view principally in longitudinal section, showing the method of filling the device;

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the case for the reception of the toothbrush.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a head 8 of plastic or other suitable material provided with bristles 9. The head 8 further includes a shank 10 having a passage 11 therein for discharging the dentifrice among the bristles 9. At its inner or rear end, the shank 10 terminates in a reduced threaded neck 12.

Removably mounted on the head 8 is an elongated tubular or hollow handle 13 of plastic or other suitable material providing a container for the reception of a pastetype dentifrice, as indicated at 14. The handle 13 includes a somewhat reduced, internally threaded forward end portion 15 which is adapted to be screwed on the neck 12 of the head 8. Mounted in the rear or inner end portion of the handle 13 is a disk 16 constituting a combined plunger stop and rod guide, said disk having formed therein a radial slot 17 which extends to the periphery thereof.

A plunger 18 is slidably mounted in the handle 13 for ejecting the toothpaste 14. A rod 19 is provided for actuating the plunger 18. The rod 19 includes a right angu- "ice larly extending inner end portion 20 which is pivotally connected, as at 21, to the plunger 18. The rod 19 is operable in the slot 17 of the disk 16. A longitudinal groove or channel 22 is provided in the handle 13 for the reception of the rod 19 when said rod is in inoperative or folded position. A notch or recess 23 in the inner or rear end portion of the handle 13, which is in communication with the groove 22 and the slot 17, accommodates the angularly extending pivoted end portion 20 of the rod 19 when said rod is swung to inoperative or folded position in said groove 22.

It is thought that the operation or manner of using the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the plunger 18 in fully retracted position, the head 8 is removed and the usual threaded neck or nozzle 24 of a conventional collapsible toothpaste tube 25 is screwed into the end portion 15 of the handle 13. The tube 25 is then squeezed or collapsed for filling the handle 13 in an obvious manner. A vent 26 is proveded in the rear end portion of the handle 13 for the escape of air therefrom during the filling operation. To feed the dentifrice 14 to the bristles 9 of the head 8, the rod 19 is disengaged from the groove 22 and swung clockwise to the position of Figure 4 of the drawing, thus bringing the angularly extending end portion 20 of said rod into abutting engagement with the central portion of the plunger 18. The plunger 18 is then pushed forwardly through the medium of the rod 19 for ejecting the desired quantity of toothpaste which flows through the passage 11 and emerges therefrom among the bristles 9 of the head 8. In addition to functioning as a stop for the plunger 18 when said plunger is retracted, the disk 16 serves as a guide for the rod 19. When the desired quantity of toothpaste has been ejected, the plunger 18 is retracted, the rod 19 is swung into the groove 22 and the toothbrush is ready for use. The vent 26 communicates with the groove 22 and is closed by the rod 19, preventing the entrance of air and consequent drying and hardening of the toothpa te while the plunger is retracted. In Figure 7 of the drawing, reference character 27 designates a pocket case for the reception of the toothbrush when it is not in use, said case being provided with a suitable clip 28.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A fountain toothbrush comprising an elongated tubular handle for the reception of a dentifrice, said handle having a longitudinal groove therein and further having an air vent in one end portion communicating with the groove, a head on the other end of the handle, a plunger slidable in the handle for ejecting the dentifrice through said head, and an operating rod pivotally connected to the plunger and engageable snugly in the groove against the bottom thereof for frictionally securing said plunger in retracted position and for closing the vent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 767,469 Ziegler et al Aug. 16, 1904 1,486,394 Smith Mar. 11, 1924 1,680,755 Wilson Aug. 14, 1928 2,371,808 Swart Mar. 20, 1945 

